INDIANAPOLIS—A number of drugs have recently been approved or are in clinical trials for treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Among them, belantamab mafodotin (Belamaf) has demonstrated the ability to eliminate myeloma cells both by direct cytotoxicity...
Quality Measures “Markedly Improve” NSCLC Surgery Outcomes for Veterans
LOUIS -- Surgery remains the first choice treatment for stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for patients who can withstand it. As a result, most patients with early stage disease and their physicians opt for surgery. A new study asks: Could establishment of a...
What Matters in Survival, Treatment of Lymphoid Cancers?
Oncologists balance the most effective treatment against the likelihood of adverse effects for every patient with cancer. Generally, the assumption is that older patients and those with more comorbidities and poorer performance status will experience more negative effects, including potentially fatal toxicity, from aggressive treatment. A study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in June calls into question this assumption for at least some patients and specific malignancies.
A Rare Cancer Prompts Sleuthing at the VA; New Options for MDS
VA researchers solved a mystery involving younger veterans who developed unusual and deadly cancers. They determined that patients currently using certain drugs, thiopurines, had triple the risk of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on an adjusted basis compared to those never exposed. The risks resolved with discontinuation.
Repeat Lung-Cancer Screening Continues to Fall Behind for Rural Veterans
Repeat lung cancer screening lags among rural veterans and could help explain known disparities in outcomes, according to a new study.
Military, Veterans More Likely to Be Screened for Many Types of Cancer
While some cancer diagnoses are disproportionately high among VA patients, the cause does not appear to be inadequate screening, according to a new study.
Monitor Cancer Survivors for Thyroid Disorders
Patients who survive cancer often face second malignant neoplasms (SMN), which are among their most serious long-term adverse health conditions.
Study Finds Disparities in VA Prostate Cancer Care
African-American men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, but it remains unclear whether racial and ethnic disparities occur in equal-access settings at the national level.
Smoking After Lung Cancer Surgery Cuts Survival
Continuing to smoke after surgical treatment for lung cancer has a strong detrimental effect on overall survival, according to a new veterans’ study.
VA Demonstrates System’s Leadership in Blood Cancers at ASH
VA researchers provided a glimpse of the department’s commitment to addressing blood cancers in veterans and taking a lead in the battle nationally at the 63rd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
ASH: Military Medicine Presents Research on Improving Blood Cancer Care
Scientists from multiple military facilities made significant contributions to the 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting here.
At the VA, the Biggest Challenge to Treating Blood Cancers Is Age
As the nation’s largest healthcare system, the VA treats more individuals with hematological malignancies than any other organization in the United States.
Definition of Four SCLC Subtypes Hold Promise for Better Treatment
While small-cell lung cancer has traditionally been treated as a single entity with generally poor results, that might be changing.
Older Age, Insurance Status Often Linked to Refusal of SCLC Care
Even though fewer than 7% of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) survive five years after diagnosis, some patients continue to refuse treatment.
SCLC Survival Rates Better With Military Healthcare Than in General Community
Small-cell lung cancer patients receiving universal healthcare access, as in the U.S. military, had longer survival rates than similar patients in the U.S. general population, according to a new study.
Total Margin-Controlled Excision Best for Keratinocyte Carcinoma
The most common human malignancy is keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), which includes basal and squamous cell cancers.
Flush Out the Foe: Veterans Beat Cancer With Help From Their (Screening) PALS
Recognizing the substantially greater risk for lung cancer faced by veterans, the VA has aggressively ramped up its screening program to reach those at-risk wherever they are.
Identifying Vulnerabilities: Choosing the Best Treatments for Real Patients
The open secret about most clinical trials is that they are not particularly useful, at least not for patients and practicing physicians. Trials typically establish criteria that restrict participation to unusually healthy patients.
Know Your Enemy: Genomics Enables Targeted Strikes on Cancer
As every military strategist knows, winning a battle depends on knowing your adversary’s vulnerabilities. In the last decade, that same approach has transformed cancer therapy.
Understanding the Breath-Taking Lung Cancer Risks in Servicemembers, Veterans
OMAHA, NE—Lung cancer kills as many people in the United States as the next three most deadly cancers combined. This year, about 236,000 people will be diagnosed with the disease, and nearly 132,000 will die from it. As common as it is in the general population, lung...
For Veterans With Cancer, Teleoncology Offers High Patient Satisfaction
Approximately 50,000 U.S. military veterans are diagnosed with cancer annually, representing 3% of all cancers across the nation.
Too Few Veterans Get Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy for Stage III NSCLC
Compared to the general U.S. population, VHA patients tend to be older, have lower levels of income and education and have a higher comorbidity burden.
Challenges in Optimizing Therapy for Older Veterans With Stage 1 NSCLC
According to a recent report, 30% of VHA patients qualified for lung cancer screening and reported at least two significant comorbidities.
Waiting More Than 12 Weeks for Surgery Can Be Risky for NSCLC Patients
A retrospective cohort study of 9,904 VHA patients with clinical Stage I NSCLC determined that surgical procedures delayed more than 12 weeks from the date of radiographic diagnosis were associated with increased risk of recurrence and worse overall survival.
NAFLD Is Dramatically Growing Cause of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
SINGAPORE – The worldwide prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma is expected to increase in line with the growing obesity epidemic. NAFLD already is the fastest-growing cause of the liver cancer in the United States, France and...
Benefit Found for Testing Veterans With Hepatitis B for Liver Cancer
SEATTLE, WA – The most common risk factors worldwide for liver cancer are chronic infection with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus, according to the American Cancer Society. Both of those infections lead to cirrhosis of the liver, but, in the United States, ...
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis Delays Common for Veterans with Cirrhosis
HOUSTON – What factors are behind delays in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in veterans who have cirrhosis of the liver? A recent study examined the frequency of delayed diagnosis and the factors involved in a cohort of VHA cirrhosis patients. Results were...
Intensive Glycemic Control Not Eye-Protective in Advanced Diabetes
Intensive glycemic control (INT) does not appear to have a protective effect when it comes to required eye procedures in patients with advanced diabetes.
VA Cancer Chief on a Mission to Increase Precision Oncology Use
Michael Kelley, MD, is on a mission, speaking to VA physicians across the country, spreading the word about precision oncology.
ICPI Add-On to Chemotherapy Continues to Improve SCLC Survival Rates
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 14.6% of veterans enrolled for VHA care reported being a current cigarette smoker in 2018.
